New U.S. Geological Survey Web Site Provides Post-Wildfire Guidance for Californians

Southern California residents now have a new online tool to help them deal with potential after-effects of recent wildfires, according to news from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

The new site includes information on the risks of post-wildfire landslides, a fire planning and mapping tool viewer, photos, videos and publications to help residents better understand the impacts of wildfires on their communities. The site also features links to other federal resources with news about disaster response services, health and safety concerns, volunteer opportunities and more.

A link to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, for example, offers citizens guidelines for protecting themselves from smoke inhalation, gathering emergency supplies, protecting pets, applying for post-wildfire assistance and dealing with stress after a disaster.

The site also forwards visitors to information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on precautions to take upon returning to a disaster area, how to rebuild after a wildfire and where to access other local resources that can help in recovery and rebuilding efforts.

Another feature on the site enables users to download and view a PBS documentary titled, "Riding the Storm: Landslide Danger in the San Francisco Bay Area."

According to the USGS, Southern California's eight counties can expect about $3 billion in losses every year from wildfires and other natural disasters, including earthquakes, landslides and floods. Many natural disasters also lead to secondary hazards; wildfires, for example, destroy vegetative ground cover and increase the risk of heavy rainwater runoff, landslides and sudden debris flows.

"Once the smoke clears from a wildfire, the danger is not over," a USGS wildfire response report states. "Other hazards, such as flash floods and debris flows (landslides), can be just as devastating, if not more so, than the wildfires themselves. Uncovering the impact on human health, biology and ecology are also important in helping to further reduce loss of life and property."

To deal with those impacts, the USGS's Multi-Hazards Demonstration Project team is working in Southern California to assess the risks of potential debris flows, estimate increased flooding threats caused by altered runoff patterns, evaluate how the wildfires affected local biodiversity and ecosystems, and monitor surface-water quality to watch for potential health risks from ashfall and runoff.

U.S. Geological Survey, "USGS Launches Web Site to Educate Public About Post-Wildfire Concerns in California." URL: (http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=1826)